March 14 commenced with two reunions for the Kansas City Chiefs on offense — backup quarterback Bailey Zappe and seasoned running back Kareem Hunt. In the afternoon, KC made a trade involving both an arrival and a departure on defense.
Starting with the former, FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz disclosed (according to his sources) that “the Chiefs are bringing on former [Los Angeles] Chargers 1st-round DT Jerry Tillery for a 1-year contract.”
Schultz characterized Tillery as a “valuable depth piece for the Kansas City D-Line,” citing 12.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles throughout 50 career starts
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As reported by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Taylor joined the Atlanta Falcons on March 14.
Chiefs Gamble on Size and Skill Again, Taking a Chance on Former Chargers and Raiders DT Jerry Tillery.
Tillery (28 years old) represents a quintessential Brett Veach acquisition. The Chiefs’ general manager enjoys wagering on size and skill, acquiring multiple former first-round flops throughout the years.
“Bust” may be too harsh a term for Tillery, as he has had a job since being drafted in 2019, but the former 28th overall pick undeniably did not meet expectations.
At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Tillery can meet KC star Chris Jones at eye level, making him a sizable individual we’re discussing. He profiles as a more effective pass rusher than run stopper, but as Schultz pointed out, Tillery has recorded only 12.5 career sacks despite 141 career quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus.
Out of the 141 pressures, 97 were categorized as quarterback hurries, while an additional 30 were QB hits, indicating that Tillery seems to struggle with finishing plays.
While Tillery’s tackling and run defense were significant weaknesses in his earlier years, he appears to have enhanced both aspects with experience. The defensive lineman reduced his missed tackle rate from peaks of 18.2% and 24.0% to only 9.7% and 10.0% in 2023 and 2024.
His PFF ratings for run defense have shown a comparable pattern, with his highest scores achieved in 2023 while playing for the Raiders.
Regarding positioning, Tillery usually positions himself in the B-Gap or over the OT, having some experience at defensive end — akin to Jones. He has been employed in the A-Gap (nose/one-tech D-tackle) the least over his career.
Tillery contributes to strengthening a weak interior DL room for KC, yet additional efforts are needed.
Former Chiefs cornerback Keith Taylor joins the Falcons.
It’s not unexpected to witness Taylor signing with another team after Kansas City did not extend a tender offer to the restricted free agent. In theory, he might have gone back to the Chiefs at a veteran minimum wage, but it seems the cornerback discovered a more favorable offer by exploring the market.
The 26-year-old Taylor was previously a fifth-round pick by the Carolina Panthers. He played for two seasons with the NFC South team before being let go after the 2023 training camp.
After that, he agreed to join the Chiefs’ practice squad and dedicated his initial year in KC to understanding the system.
In 2024, Taylor ultimately saw some playtime in Kansas City, participating in 11 games as a special teams player and a backup defensive back. According to Pro Football Reference, he recorded 132 snaps on special teams and an additional 79 snaps on defense.